The Phillipsburg School Board on Monday approved a greatly reduced state fine for failing to follow proper bid procedure in awarding the 2010-11 district security contract, but not without criticism of the legal fees involved.

“It greatly concerns me,” board member Robert D. Yale Jr. said after Monday’s school board meeting, referring to the fees as an unnecessary cost. “Our law firm did a great job getting the fine down, but it cost money to do that. We’re an Abbott district and every penny counts.”

The school board voted unanimously to accept the reduced fine from the state.

Yale asked officials at the school board meeting the cost of the legal fees from the case.

School Business Administrator William Bauer gave a ballpark estimate of $27,000 to $29,000 billed from law firm Florio Perrucci Steinhardt & Fader LLC, which represents the district.

“I was surprised of the amount of the attorney fees if it is that exact number,” Superintendent Mark B. Miller said after the meeting.

Miller, who bore the brunt of the frustration from the Camelot hiring, said it is time to turn the page.

“There was a mistake made and it was corrected, so we moved forward,” Miller said.

School board President Kevin DeGerolamo had similar sentiments as Miller.

“I’m glad we can put this behind us and close it out,” DeGerolamo said. “It’s a reasonable fine from the state considering what it could have been.”

The school board followed the proper bidding process this year in selecting a security firm suitor.

San Antonio, Texas-based ISS Security Services won the 2011-12 security contract in June after posting the lowest bid of $342,312, about $80,000 less than Camelot's contract. Camelot had replaced security guards employed by the school district.

ISS took over July 1 and retained many of the Camelot security guards, according to Miller.

“Twelve of the original Camelot guards are working for ISS,” Miller said, adding he’s happy with ISS.

Miller, whose contract is up at the end of the school year, responded to a question if he feels the contract mishap will affect his contract renewal.

“That’s up to them,” Miller said, referring to the board. “It’s a personnel issue.”

***

BOARD MEMBER RESIGNS

The Phillipsburg School Board came out of a closed-door meeting Monday night and voted to accept the resignation of board member Salvatore Patti.

School board President Kevin DeGerolamo said Patti resigned for health reasons.